Day 16...Finding My Way Home...

Hi Friends and Family,

Today we met for PT at 5 a.m. It was a beautiful morning as the mist settled over the rising sun...really pretty. We ran about 2 miles today...the run wasn't bad but my back has been sore from doing sit ups at night...

The rest of the day we spent learning how to read maps. We learned how to measure distance, read a compass, report our position when lost etc... I was dreading this portion of the course but was pleasantly surprised by how much it made sense.

I got assigned to a special detail this evening to go out to the camp area and set up tents and cots for the next three days. (The next three days will be on the field doing exercises. I won't be able to blog for a few days but hope to have some fun pictures to share when I get back.) It made for a long day as we got back to our rooms after 7 p.m. I'm exhausted!

Thanks for the cards and pictures today. It's a nice reminder of home... In chapel we watched a video of a soldier returning home to surprise his son at school after seven months away. When the little boy saw his dad he ran to him and cried in his arms...All the dads in the room (including me of course) had tears streaming down their faces... I would be absolutely in love with this ministry if I had Christina and the kids here with me...Thankfully Christina will be flying out in less than two weeks for a few days of leave with me. I'm going to take her down to Hilton Head Island. The sermon was about being homesick for heaven. It was a good reminder that Christians are not home yet...someday we will be with Jesus but for now our hearts ache...

Some of my favorite guys eating lunch! Not to brag but I ate a salad. It's amazingly easy to gain weight down here.

Learning how to read a map!

Please be in prayer for Amy Elliott, the wife of Tim, my platoon leader. She is due with their child on the 2nd of June and Tim is done here on the 29th. I am praying a healthy baby will be delivered with Tim by Amy's side. I'd appreciate you all saying a prayer on their behalf!

Blessings and Love to you all!!!